Information that public authorities control is a valuable public resource, and allowing public access of such information promotes greater transparency and accountability of those authorities. This means that access to information is essential to the democratic process.
The purpose of the access to information act is to make a government more open and accountable for its actions to its people. Citizens have a right to know what their governments, international organisations, and even private corporations are doing.
They deserve to know how public resources are being allocated, and these concerns directly reflect anti-corruption. Corruption flourishes in darkness, therefore striving to open governments and intergovernmental organisations to public scrutiny will aid in preventing corruption.
Access to information laws can be adopted through developing a culture of the right to information. To achieve this, civil society organisations should campaign to promote the right to information, creating this culture. Creating such a culture benefits both sides, as public officials are willing to release information and the public being ready to file requests.
Intensive legal education and freedom of information campaigns need to be taken to raise awareness among the population and encourage filing of requests.
An access to information law can not only be used as a tool to uncover corruption, it can also prevent it by highlighting poor administration practices, especially regarding how government funds are spent.
Through this law, internal efficiency and information management can also be improved when held to a new level of accountability. When new laws are adopted, and particularly during the subsequent months of the implementation period, it is necessary to improve the current administrative structure and internal information management systems.
Before the implementation of a new law, in this case — a new access to information law — should be utilised effectively. This period of time, often between six to 12 months, allows the opportunity to train public servants and hold awareness campaigns for the public, business associations and civil society organisations.
Access to information laws can be adopted with or without civil society involvement, and even with or without a full commitment to transparency by the national government. To achieve full implementation of these laws, there must be sufficient political will. Politicians themselves can be part of the change in the culture of secrecy through the initiative to promote and implement the right to information.
